Parents' day in South Korea

Koreans incorporate the fact of biological continuity into their family life according to ancient ideas of birth and conception. Mothers traditionally were thought to produce the flesh of their children, and fathers to provide the bones. As bone endures longer than flesh,kinship through males was thought more binding than through females.Even today men pass on membership in their clan to their children,while women do not.

The South Korean designation (Parents' Day) was established in 1973, replacing the Mother's Day previously marked on May 8, and includes public and private celebrations.

In Korea, May is considered the month of family because May 5 is Children's Day and May 8 is Parents' Day (어버이날 - eo-beo-i-nal). It is the day for children to show filial piety towards their parents. In the phrase "어버이날", "어" means "어머니" - mother, "버" stands for "아버지", which means this day is not only mother's day but also father's day.